Garment hanger



Dec. 6, 1938. 1 COLUNS 2,138,957

GARMENT HANGER Dec. 6, 1938.

J. M. coLLlNs 2,138,957

GARMENT HANGER Fied Feb. 28, 1938 A 2 sheets-sheet 24 Inventor l. M. K0/)9276 wim@ 16m Patented Dec. 6, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GARMENT HANGER Jefferson M. Collins, Richmond, Va.

Application February 28, 1938, Serial No. 193,156 2 claims. .(01. 223-87) My invention relates to improvements in garment hangers, particularly combination coat and trousers hangers.

The primary object of the invention is to devise a light-weight, strong device of this character made of very inexpensive material, and.

which is collapsible into a at condition for packing and shipping, and readily set up into permanent form for use as a hanger.

My invention also comprehends other objects, more or less subordinate in nature, all of which together with the precise character of my improvement will be readily understood when the succeeding description and claims are read with reference to the drawings accompanying and forming part of this specication.

In said drawings:-

Figure 1 is a view in top plan oi' a hanger constructed in accordance with my invention and showing the same collapsed,

Figure 2 is a view in bottom plan,

Figure 3 is a View in side elevation,

Figure 4 is a View in side elevation showing the hanger set up for use,

Figure 5 is a view in end elevation drawn to an enlarged scale and showing the hanger set up for use, and

Figure 6 is a view in vertical longitudinal section taken on the line 6 5 of Figure 5 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Referring to the drawings by numerals, the garment hanger of my invention, in its general aspect, is of the usual form in that it comprises a pair of top bars I and 2 sloping downwardly from the center of the hanger and for supporting the shoulders of a coat, a hook 3 for suspending the top bars I and 2, and a bottom bar 4 for supporting trousers in the usual manner. The ends of the lower bar 4 are connected to the top bars I and 2 by means of end portions 5 and 6.

The described structure, with the exception of the hook 3, is made of a single piece of striplike cardboard of suitable rigidity weakened, as by scoring, not shown, at suitable points 'I and 8 to form hinges between the lower bar 4 and the end portions 5 and 6, and similarly treated, as at the points 8 and 9, to form hinges between the end portions 5 and 6 and the upper bars I and 2. 'Ihe tip portions II of the strip are brought together in overlapping relation in the center of the hanger and fastened together as by stapling, as at I2, upon opposite sides of the center of the overlap, or hanger, to form a pocket I3 between said tip portions. V

As will be seen upon reference to Figure 4, in

the set-up position of the hanger the tip portions I I are upwardly arched. The hook 3 is provided with a shank I4 extending through the upper tip portion I I so that the hook may be rotated relative to the hanger, the shank being formed of twin strands of Wire twisted together 'to provide at the extremity of the shank I4 a pair of oppositely extending prongs I5 disposed :in the general plane of the hook 3 and located in the pocket I3. The prongs I5 are bowed in substantial correspondence with the curvature of the tip portions II whereby when the hook 3 is turned into the general plane of the hanger it is held in upright position by coaction of the prongs I5 with the tip portions II. On the other hand if the hook 3 is turned crosswise of the hanger, whereby said prongs I5 are similarly disposed, the hook 3 may be swung in the upper tip portion lI, and the pocket I3, down flat on either of the bars-I and 2.

A pair of locking fingers I5 are cut out of the strips adjacent opposite ends of the lower bar 4 to swing upwardly out of said strip, or bar, each of which has a T-head I6 thereon and a pair of opposed edge notches I'I therein adjacent the head. A pair of bayonet slots I8 are cut out of the strip adjacent the upper ends of the end portions 5 and 6 respectively. The arrangement of the locking fingers I5 and slots I8 is such that in the set-up position of the hanger the T-heads I6 of said fingers I5 may be inserted in the slots I8 and the notches I1 engaged with the edges of said slots with the fingers I5 in an outwardly inclined position whereby said iingers and slots coact to lock the end portions 5 and 6 against hinging movement in either direction and consequently lock the parts of the hanger in set-up position.

In order to reinforce the bars I, 2 and 4 against bending, said bars are preferably pressed or otherwise formed with a transverse curvature as shown at I9.

When it is desired to collapse the hanger the locking iingers I5 are disengaged from the bayonet slots I8 whereupon the end portions 5 and 6 may be swung outwardly on the lower bar 4 into the plane of the latter and the upper bars I and 2 may be depressed iiat against the bar 4 and said end portionsall as shown in Figure 3. The manner in which the hook 3 is folded in collapsing the hanger has already been described.

The foregoing constitutes a detailed description of a preferred embodiment of my invention and it is believed that the structure and advantages of the invention will be readily understood therefrom without further explanation.

Manifestly the invention, as described, is susceptible of modification without departing from the inventive concept and right is herein reserved to such modications as fall within the scope of the subjoined claims.

What I claim is:-

1. A combination coat and trousers hanger comprising a pair of upper bars nclining downwardly and oppositely from the center of the hanger, a lower bar, and end portions connecting the lower bar to the outer ends of the upper bars, respectively, said bars and portions being formed of a single strip of cardboard having its ends connected together, said end portions each having a bayonet slot in the upper end thereof and the lower bar having a pair of locking fingers cut out of opposite ends thereof to incline upwardly toward said slots, said ngers having T- shaped heads for coaction with edges of said slots to interlock with said end portions' and prevent the latter from swinging on said bars.

2. A combination coat and trousers hanger comprising a pair of upper bars inclining downwardly and oppositely from the center of the hanger, a lower bar, and end portions connecting the lower bar to the outer ends of the upper bars, respectively, said bars and portions being formed of a single strip of cardboard having its ends connected together, said end portions each having a bayonet slot in the upper end thereof and the lower bar having a pair of locking fingers cut out of opposite ends thereof to incline upwardly toward said slots, said fingers having T- shaped heads for coaction with edges of said slots to interlock with said end portions and prevent the latter from swinging on said bars, the ends of the strip being connected together in overlapping relation in the center of the hanger to form a pocket therebetween, and a hook having a shank extending through one overlapping end of the strip into said pocket and provided with a pair of laterally and oppositely extending prongs thereon located in said pocket.

JEFFERSON M. COLLINS. 

